Method of preserving timber from boring organisms.



JAMES EDWARD CUNNINGHAM, OF SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

METHOD OF PRESERVING TIMBER FROM BORING ORGANISMS.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JAMES EDWARD CUN- NINGHAM, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at No. 56 Post Oflice Chambers, Pitt street, Sydney, in the State of New South Wales and Commonwealth of Australia, have invented a .new and useful Improved Method of Preserving Timber from Boring Organisms, of which the following is a specification.

Hitherto many methods of preservingtimberincludingsome forms of cha ring have been devised to enable it to reslst the attacks of N ausz'to-ria and M ollusca, Crustacea, such as Teredo navalis cobra and other creatures in the water upon piles and the-like or the bottoms and sides of waterborne craft and white ants, worms, grubs, borers and method of preserving timber from the ravages of such organisms so that it will effectively withstand the attacks ofsuch destructive creatures in the water and on the land.

Methods of preserving timber from the ravages of boring organisms involving charring hitherto have had the following respective characteristics namely (1) the mere scorching or burning of the exterior surfaces (2) the coating of the timber with tar, burning the same in an open fire and then adding something such as tar,or tar and sand, to give an external coat to the char (3) the charring was invariably done before the timber was driven or fixed in position, consequently the char stratum was broken by'handling, and the blows of tools and drivers. But this invention differs from these (1) in that the timber before it is made ready for fitting, or after it is fixed in position or driven, is impregnated with inflammable oil or hydrocarbon and then evenly burned or charred by means of a regulatable high pressure gas flame, such as that from a pressure brazing or welding or like lamp, to an even and considerable depth (2) in that the surface of any orifices or recesses in such timbers are also evenly charred by such treatment (3) 1n that the preservation method is so slmphfied Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1916.

Application filed August 27, 1914. Serial No. 858,930.

as to be complete in itself (4) in that the charring of wharf structures and buildings in existence and of the bottoms and sides of waterborne craft may be completed and maintained in an effective and cheap manner not heretofore possible (5) in that it makes possible the addition to existing structures of preserving linings and sheathings and (6) in that it provides a cheap and easy means whereby any cleavage or break away of the char stratum, (if any should occur) maybe quickly and effectively repaired.

It maybe pointed out that the preservation of underwater timbers by the formation and maintenance of a thick and even stratum or layer of charcoal or char without the addition of an outer. coat of other material or saturation with other substance effectively repels the attacks of Nausz'tom'a, Mollusca, Urustacea, or other boring organisms. Further that hitherto there being no means whereby the depth of char stratum could be regulated and controlled, it was im practicable to char logs intended to be floated and it was impossible to char the bottoms and sides of water-borne craft without great risk of their being rendered unseaworthy. And again it may be pointed out that although charring of timber for land and under surface. uses hasbeen recognized as an effectual protection against the ravages of boring organisms such as white ants and other insects, and also against thedecaying effect of weather and time, yet no means has scorched or burned by means of a regu-' latable high pressure gas flame until a thick stratum or layer of charcoal or char is produced over the whole of its outer surface of the necessary-thickness or depth of char and which generally should be at least] a;

quarter of an inch.

If while a pile or other piece of timber already charred is being placed or driven, and

has reached to within say nine inches or one foot of its intended immersion, any portion of the charred surfaces is found to be broken, dislodged or otherwise rendered deor othercause, itisto be reimpregnated with petroleum, cresote, tar, or oth'er'inflammable hydrocarbon as in the initial treatment and then charred with a brazing or welding or like lamp until a char of the heretofore'defined thickness is obtained. If when a pile or piece of timber is driven into or fixed in position any breakage of the char stratum is seen or felt within two feet under low water spring tide mark the pile or piece of timber is to be withdrawn and any breakage. repaired by impregnation and charring as before mentioned. i

Ekisting wharf constructions, sea-bath protections and the like which have not already been attacked by Tered naoalz's or other Crustacean may be protected by the same method; i. e. impregnation of the material followed by charring with a high pressure gasflame say from a high power brazing or welding lamp being applied when the tide is at its lowest springs. I

In places where the timber may be subj ected to jars and heavy pressures such as inwharfing, berthing' or fending, a diagonal or vertical plank sheathing may be secured" to the pile structure and supported clear thereof on charred stringers or plates affixed about and outside of the piles preferably at a point about two feet below low water (ordinary spring tide) mark.

Logs and other timber intended to be floated in water and the sides. and bottoms of wooden ships, hulks, boats, launches, lighters, punts, pontoons, and other floating craft are impregnated up 'to their load' lines with petroleum, creosote, tar, or other inflammable hydrocarbon and then charred witha brazing lamp until a close andeven char of say a quarter of an inch in thickness is attained. Fencing, gate posts, telegraph and telephone poles, railway ties and the like may also be treated in the manner described,

pregnated with the substances above referred to, it being preferable to .treat such timbers just previously to their being used and in the locations in which they are to be placed. v

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A method of' preserving timber, which comprises first impregnating the timber to a considerable depth below its surface with an inflammable hydrocarbon, and in then charring the impregnated layer to an even depth with a high power gas flame.

2. A method of preserving timber, which comprises impregnating the timber to a considerable depth below its surface with aninflammable hydrocarbon, and in then charring the impregnated layer with a high power gas flame, then reimpregnating any defects which occur in the charred layer and recharring the reimpregnated portions of the layer with a high power gas flame.

comprises firstimpregnating the timber to a considerable depth below its surface with an inflammable hydrocarbon, and in then charring the impregnated layer to an even depth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specificationin the presence of u U two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES EDWARD CUNNINGHAM.

' Witnesses: I GEORGE T. HANsoN, J OHN P. BRAY.

. 3. A.method of preserving timber, which 

